[janetteB @replies]

@translatercircuit According to an article in the Guardian recently the next series of Dr Who is going to be impacted by the writers strike, presumably due to the Disney connection. I guess that the specials will not be impacted.

. Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@winston Our sons tell me that I am too forgiving of Dr Who too but sometimes it does go too far for me. Kill and Moon and the cyberking being probably the worst examples. Sci fi generally and fantasy create their own rules and as long as they vaguely stick to those that i fine. I tried writing a sci fi story recently and got caught up in the “space travel is impossible” dilemma and finally decided in the interests of fiction to just say, “They have found a way and not explain to much about how.” Sometimes the rules have to be suspended or there would be no stories. Hyperspace, wormholes warp speed, Tardis, as long as it sounds like it is established as fact within the fictional universe then I will accept it. But have a robot stomping over London in the 19th century that is not mentioned in history and I will be upset.

It is because I love Dr Who so much that being unable to watch the last series really saddens me I want to be loyal to it but I felt as though the series I loved was being trashed as the universe was ripped apart. I did not mind the stories mostly, I liked J.W. and though Graeme occasionally annoyed me I still kept watching until the destruction of Gallifrey. I do intend to watch the final though before November.

As an aside I recently had to update my phone (most reluctantly) and finally got the ring tone I have always wanted. We were dining with friends on Friday night and they guessed at once that it would be something from Dr Who. It is the Tardis sound. (my messenger alert is a cat meow)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave. Good news indeed. She is always great value.

@devilshrobby There is still very little news coming out and like I am getting impatient. I believe the third of the specials will be broadcast over Christmas, though the actual date is unspecified. I am hoping it will be Christmas Day in a return to “tradition”. I guess things are a little uncertain now too due to the strike but I don’t know if that will effect the specials.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. The Doctor and other aliens can bend “the rules of reality” but those rules need to be fixed in order to bend. I think it was Moffat that said that the human world of Dr Who is our world only without a curious little TV show called Dr Who. that is also why stories that change our history bother me, ie the giant stompy robot striding across London in the Next Doctor Christmas Special. Moffat gets a get out of goal free card, (just) for the T Rex in the Thames because he explains why it is forgotten later and it does no damage, AT the time most people dismiss it as a kind of trick.

We deploy that same suspension of disbelief in most sci fi. The aliens have artificial gravity. No need to explain how that works. It’s alien. The aliens have found hyper space, no need to explain that, its alien etc etc. that is one of the reasons that sci fi appeals to us, it can bend reality without challenging our sense of reason.

I do hope that Moffat will find time to write the odd story or two for his old mate RTD..

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Have not watched the two parter for a while. Zygons are one of my favourite monsters, in part because Dr Who and the Zygons with Tom Baker and Elizabeth Sladden was the first episode I ever watched and because there is something very disturbing about shape shifters. You cannot ever be sure than anyone is who you think they are.

As to the revival of Osgood. Poor Moffat could never kill off a character. He specialised in stories where, “everyone lives”.  Fans complain so he kills a character, fans complain even more so he revives her. (And a good thing too. Osgood is a great character and who better to show that the enemy may not be who we think it is.) I really do love the ending of this two parter. Dr Who is no longer a simple story of humans/good guys verses aliens/bad guys.

Cheers

Janette

And back to the podcast editing. right now I feel like Bernard trying to avoid doing his tax….

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. Another well thought through review. I have not re watched this for a very long time but as I recall there were aspects of the historical depiction of Vikings that annoyed me. I don’t recall just what they were however. I also found Ashildr a bit irritating at times and though  I really don’t know anything about electric eels that bit rather stretched credulity. So overall  I would give this a 6/10, just a pass.  Having read your review however I now do want to watch it again and see if it holds up better than remembered.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Have just returned from holiday and doing some catching up.

A good review for an episode that would probably be a 7/10. Not bad with a lot of good moments but not one of the best. (I have not watched it for a long time so I may be unfair in that judgement.) I thought it better than the previous episode with the dodgy Vikings. An episode of Sandman reminded me a little of this episode, where it touched on what it actually means to live forever.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston  I feel the same. It isn’t just about “us” humans, we are killing so many other innocent creatures and that simply isn’t fair. We don’t have the right to do that. Just today I saw that Emperor penguin chicks are dying in Antarctica. We are destroying so much in our hubris and arrogance. But is isn’t most humans, just unfortunately those in power.

Yes we have to stay hopeful. That is our best defence. (I think the Doctor would agree. If we don’t keep hoping then we have no hope of ever doing better.)

We are about to get busy in the garden too We just had the peppercorn tree removed, much to the relief and delight of our neighbours as it was causing some issues and we were able to provide several with free firewood. We now have a huge area of yard covered in sawdust and lots of plans.

I love the name Emilia. For some reason I like female names beginning with E and as lot of the main characters in my writing have names beginning with E, Eleanor, Emma, Ellen, etc.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave. Thank you for sharing that news. I note they used the words, “Christmas Special” and that makes me very happy indeed.

In a overview of tv series coming this “autumn” to the UK in the Guardian the other day it was said that RTD is saving Dr Who for a second time. I hope those words prove true.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave. Hi. Good to hear from you. I hope all is ok in your neck of the woods and you are not troubled by fires.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent That is a cool detail. Colstrope is an interesting name. I do like these old Anglo-Saxon names. Or derived from old anglo-saxon.

We finally finished series 2 the other night. Not as good as series 1 but still very good. It lacks the Pratchett whimsy element and I feel as though it is really setting the stage for series 3.

I will have to look out for Neverwhere.

In other matters, I hope that everyone is ok. It has been very quiet here of late.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@jameshope Agreed. Such a pity that so many of his stories are missing.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston I would love to have grandchildren one  day but no prospect of that at the moment. I do have a “grandkitty” as compensation. You are very fortunate and so are your grandchildren and great grandchild. (our boys lost their grandmother when they were very young. we were talking about that today. family gathering.)

I liked all three actors playing the master in AG Who. John Simm was good at the beginning but I thought the writing for his character became too “over the top” in later episodes. He was excellent when he returned in the last Cap Doc episodes. Missy was fun, and great dress sense. I would love to wear suits like that. Sacha Dhawan is a great actor and I hope that he returns in the next series. (Though I am still sad because he would have been a great Doctor.)

Meanwhile we are currently watching series 2 of Good Omens and enjoying all the Doctor Who references. I wonder if Neil Gaiman will write another Who Script. I feel as though he is hinting at that in this series. Show his credentials as a committed fan.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston Congratulations That is wonderful news and having a great great grandfather, wow That is impressive. A lucky child too, to have so many generations of family.

and @dentarthurdent I was not a fan of the movie at the time it was a bitter disappointment, It just didn’t have the feel of Dr Who. It has been years since I watched it but at the time it felt like watching something else entirely. Paul McGann was great in the role and I was thrilled that he got to do the regeneration short for the anniversary. He has endeared himself to fans through Big Finish and his convention appearances and that swansong was well deserved. It also showed just how good he would have been as the Doctor.

When we get to Doctor no 8, (if we get to that) in Cult TV Club  I will probably just show a snippet of the movie and the minisode. We are up to Davison this year but scheduling recordings is getting increasingly difficult.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@toinfinityandbepond I am so excited about Good Omens. Been looking forward to it for ages and just what I need to unwind after this weekend. (my busy weekend for the year) Will be looking out for those easter eggs and the OMG moment.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. We are still to watch this episode. I have been putting it off but we plan to watch it before the specials air later this year. Your review gives me more confidence about it. I have decided not to watch the Flux series which saddens me. The destruction of Gallifrey lost me. But I do want to see J.W’s final episode. I agree that Yaz was the best of her companions. She tended to be pushed into the background in the first series which was perhaps to her advantage as her character was not as inconsistent as Ryan and never became annoying like Graham. I wish thet her family had featured more too.

So Thank you again for the review.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. I remember watching Fifth Element back in the day, probably on VHS from our local video hire store. That was the period when we would pick up a fresh batch of videos every Tuesday and take away from the restaurant next door. Now feels like another age, akin to having a milkman deliver the milk every morning with horse and cart. I was not such a big fan of the movie but I was impressed by the imaginary world. My favourite sci-fi movie from around that era is less elevated. It has to be Galaxy Quest. Dune might be another contender for favourite when the second part finally releases. (it is apparently now delayed to next year.)

We are currently watching the Doctor/Martha series, when other tasks permit.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@translatorcircuit Speaking of German productions, I doubt though that there is any hope of a life buoy being thrown to 1899. I was very very disappointment when Netflix cancelled it. I have not watched it yet but I loved Dark and was really looking forward to 1899. Perhaps the makers will be funded for a new series by someone else.

While it would be nice to see other countries benefit from the Hollywood strike at the same time these major streaming sites are screwing everyone world over and I would not be happy to see them bypass U.S. workers/actors only to exploit creative people in other countries in the same way. I think this strike will have ramifications for the industry world wide. Fingers crossed that will be for the better.

We have several versions of Shada one voiced by Tom Baker which is rather lovely, even if it relies upon stills for the missing scenes. It was a good story, written by Douglas Adams and a great shame that it was never finished.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@oochillyo  I have only read a couple of comics, mostly Dr Who related or Babylon Five related. I read a lot, alternating between fiction and non fiction, mostly history and archaeology. My taste in fiction is broad, literature, sci fi, fantasy, and like @dentarthurdent,  I avoid the popular stuff. Currently I am making my way through Terry Pratchett. Wonderful stuff, and reading A Suitable Boy as well which has taken me most of the winter.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston and @dentarthurdent I have started a post several times in the past few days and then not had time or brain energy to finish. so I have made notes, Back a few posts to the mention of Big Finish. I have listened to a couple. We got one free with a Dr Who magazine once. They are pricey though and i don’t listen to stuff so I have not invested in any. I do hear they are very good and listening to the interviews certainly sparked my interest.

Re gardens, I am envious of both your gardens. Mine is now so overgrown by Morning Glory creeper and bougainvillea that my poor rose bushes are being strangled. We had a sunny day on Wednesday and I went on the attack. We have a peppercorn tree to cut down, which we are sad about because I love all trees but this one is a menace in a suburban garden and so has to go.  The s/o is putting off making the fateful phone call.

We are also re watching series three with Martha Jones. Watched Smith and Jones the other night. I think Martha was overshadowed by Rose and some poor writing. Having her in love with the Doctor was a mistake. Maybe it would have worked if it were not so heavy handed. Still she is so good in Human Nature/Family of Blood which are two of my favourite episodes. The acting and writing is near to perfect and I really feel for Martha, being bullied and dis respected, and watching the Doctor falling in love with another woman. Martha is now one of my favourite companions and I do wish she had stayed for another series.

Dentarthurdent there is a discussion thread I think about Neverwhere down in the TV threads from when we were looking at other shows featuring Peter Capaldi. I have not seen it and did not realise that it was based on a Gaiman story.

(And talking of Gaiman i believe that the next series of Good Omens is dropping soon. More Tennant/Sheen goodness to look forward to.)

Cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

I was wondering if the extension of the Hollywood writer’s strike would impact Dr Who now that it is a Disney production and it seems it will at least according to this Guardian article. That is one of the costs of the new partnership I guess. I hope the strike achieves its aims and am 100% behind the strikers, even if it means waiting longer to watch some favourite shows.

In other Dr Who related news the Guardian are doing a question and answer with Mark Gatiss. I was going to post a question, asking if he is going to write another scrip but someone beat me to it. I hope the question gets selected.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent I have just spent the last two hours not doing all the jobs I was supposed to be doing this afternoon and it is your fault. 🙂 Thank you for sharing those links. Really enjoyed both interviews so much. Billie Piper’s hair threw me. I started watching on the small screen and felt as though there was someone else talking with her voice so I had to go full screen.

Some notes. I applaud her choice of best episodes, Tooth and Claw and Father’s Day both of which we re-watched recently and hold up well. I also “hear heared” her favourite Rose saying, “no more” and anything relating to chips. Nice to hear her talking about working with Camille, her second Mum.

Christopher’s Ecclestone’s interview was full of interesting insights and proves wrong anyone who claims that he doesn’t do humour. I laughed out loud several times. His favourite, The Empty Child is one of my all time favourite episodes and the Doctor interacting with the children is a highlight of that. He sums up the quality of Doctor Who perfectly with the words, “humanity, inclusion, equality” and I think that RTD really brought those aspects to the fore in his writing. Applause from me for his mention of Glenda Jackson. I was thinking of her when he talked about his background and of course for mentioning the film Jude.

So now I am keen to find out more about that Big Finish production that is coming out soon.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

works for me too, which is why we re watch so much Dr Who. The Doctor always makes the right choice, defends the innocent, and sends the monsters back to where they belong. it is proof that TV does nto always have to reflect reality. Humans have been telling stories for thousands of years that uplift us, that inspire us to keep on fighting to make the world better, stories that give us hope, that soothe us when we are hurt and Dr Who fits right into that.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

“Santa and his sarcastic elves”. That sounds like just the medicine I need right now. (just been shouted at for half an hour over the phone re’ R.L shit that unfortunately seems to be par for the course in running community events. Grrrr.)

Wish I could get attacked by a dream crab right about now..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent to respond to the last post first, perhaps the dream crab extracted the memory of Clara from the Doctor and then went in search of her It is possible the Doctor was infected while on his search for Gallifrey.

I am not so confident however in Moffat’s script writing to be certain that he thought it through, though sometimes I suspect/hope that he has an explanation for things which are not explained on screen, like Orson Pink for instance. I suspected that “the woman in the shop” from Bells of St Johns was a throw away line that he later worked into the story because fans were speculating on who the woman was.

Last Christmas is brilliant, pure fantasy wrapped up in a solid sci fi concept. It all makes sense, in the end and is rationally explained. In fact the story plays with the irrational premise of many other sci fi stories, such as a random research facility that does not have any sound scientific basis for existing, random people who are clearly not really scientists, even Clara and Danny’s luxury home and gifts which would be way beyond the budget of 21st century teachers I would imagine. (It certainly would in oz these days)

This is one of my favourite Christmas Specials and one of my favourite episodes.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent It is a good series. Last Christmas is one of the best Christmas Specials, speaking of which I have high hopes that RTD will resurrect the Christmas Special. Dr Who and Christmas just go together like ghost stories and Christmas.

Been busy over the last couple of days but look forward to catching up with the observations also I want to reread your review from previous watches of Dark Water and Death in Heaven which were good episodes.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Urgh. I have replied twice to this. The first time I closed down Firefox before posting. The second time I was logged out. So third attempt

Another excellent review @dentarthurdent. There are some critical logical flaws in this episode and while I like the idea that the writer is trying to convey the execution does not work. I still prefer this episode to Kill the Moon which has no redeeming features at all for me.  I love trees and the idea of London being covered in trees has appeal. It is a pity that the story makes no sense. still at least there are some good moments and as usual lovely snappy dialogue which makes it mostly watchable. The first half, the set up, is definitely better than the pay off. The ending is down there with the broadcast in Kill the Moon and the golden arrow.

(I am certain that my original post was much better worded.)

Cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Indeed. A very inspiring person. i was a teenager when I watched Elizabeth R. It made a big impression on me. The first VHS box set I ever owned was that series. Unfortunately I have not seen any of her film roles or seen her on stage. She was as inspiring a politician as she was an actor. Reading through all the articles about her today I am even more in awe of her achievements.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@nerys Hope that you are still safe and well.

It has been quite here of late and so i just wanted to say hi to everyone and hope everyone is ok and enduring the long wait till November.

We put on an old episode “Into the Dalek” tonight for background viewing. I have posters to design and the s/o is busy with 3d printing stuff. We have watched these episodes so many times that they are company now. Every so often we look up and smile at the snappy lines.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent One of the quibbles i have with the Moffat era is the depiction of Churchill as being a kindly leader. I don’t share that view of Churchill. My mother certainly did, having gone through the war being drip fed pro British propaganda. She did not even see him as the person who was willing to sell out Australia, not allowing the  tropes to come back to defend Australia when there was a threat of invasion until he was persuaded by the Australian P.M. But then when I was a teenager Mum began reading Churchill’s autobiographies and she was horrified by the arrogance and racism that seeped through the narrative. Apparently (I never read them myself) he was eager to join any little “scrap” out on the fringes of empire, keen to take “pot shots at the natives”.  For that reason Victory of the Daleks is not an episode i particularly like either, (that and the absurd space planes).  I don’t think that Moffat ever grinds a political axe and that is fine. I just don’t like it when a historical person is sugar coated.

I love the historical stories but don’t like them to mess with actual history. The “giant stompy robot” at the end of The Next Doctor really annoys me. If London was trashed by a massive cyberking in the mid 19th Century it would be written about. The dinosaur in Deep Breath gets a pass, just, because the Doctor explains, (albeit implausibly) why it isn’t mentioned in history. At least he acknowledges that it should be recorded, remembered. I prefer historical stories that tread lightly which Robots of Sherwood at least does right.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Yes. The problem with heavy handed moralising is that you loose the people you won over with the message in the story even if they are totally “on board” they will be offended because they feel as though they are being patronised and if they don’t agree they might have been influenced but the moment they realise that they will turn against the message so the heavy handed moralising looses all sides of the audience. For me the glaring example of this is Rosa which packs a narrative punch through the story then totally undermines it at the end with the heavy handed moralising. My heart sank at that moment, sitting in a room of people who had been completely engaged with the story. The heavy handed ending lost them even though they were totally in agreement with the sentiment and quite a few never watched another episode of Dr Who. If only the writers had trusted ot the ‘show” and not felt the compulsion to “tell”, because the story sold the message so well. Another one of my Chibnell gripes.

I found a lot of U.S. tv series were very heavy handed. Noticed that with kids shows when the boys were young. Australian and English shows packed the message into the story whereas the U.S. shows tended to have to tell the audience and it was just so off-putting. (and the message was usually great just the delivery that was the issue)

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Great reviews, both of them. I must have read the review a year ago but really enjoyed reading it again. It is an excellent episode, great characters, great story, great dialogue. The concept of the Doctor being trapped in a tiny Tardis is unique as are the 2d “monsters.” Lots of original ideas. Rigsy is a well written character and I was glad that he appears again. Having someone in peril that we are already invested in really pays off in the next series.

This episode also does a good job of humanising welfare recipients and was made at a time when the government was demonising those on welfare. It is a good example too of show not tell. We don’t need some heavy handed moralising at the end to get the message. We have absorbed it though the mechanisms of the story.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Sorry to hear about the fires. So terrible, heartbreaking and infuriating because this should not be happening, not like this. I hope that you are OK @nerys.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Though the Doctor worked for UNIT he was always anti military, and continually ribbed the Brigadier for his “five rounds rapid” approach to problems. The Doctor was always a little anarchic but also clever, using “science” (inverted commas because science in Dr Who isn’t always scientific) rather than brute force, as per the military.

I think the Doctor as non military even anti military is a theme in this series working towards the final episode where he has to make that choice, take on a army or not and i think Danny calling him Sir is written to preempt that. (Danny is being rather offensive in that scene)

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Was pondering the episode while prepping dinner. Soldiers are very much a theme of this series. In Into the Dalek the Doctor rejects Journey Blue because while she might be a very nice person she is a soldier. Soldiers are not evil but they obey without question which makes them easily manipulated by evil. The Mummy is simply following orders, a mindless robot being manipulated by the evil Gus. Weary of war it is a creature to be pitied though it is also a killer and an object of fear and loathing. Danny is a solider for a reason. He is in some ways a opposite to the Doctor. In Listen the Doctor asks, “am I a good person”. Danny describes him as a warlord, and we know that he was once the War Doctor. In some ways this harks back to the end of the first AG series with Ecclestone when he opts to be a coward rather than a killer. The Doctor is still working out who he is, and Danny accusing him of being an officer highlights just who the Doctor is not because he rejects the entire military ethos.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Yes this is a cracker of an episode. It is well written and beautifully designed. The tension between the Doctor and Clara is perfectly balanced. I think he is able to relate to Perkins and Moorehouse because they are scientists at work. It isn’t a personal interaction. Love the touch with the jelly babies. The twenties look suits Clara. I am not surprised that she went onto a major costume role after leaving Who. Some actors fit period roles better than others.

I think Danny is trying but he has his own demons to overcome, such as being abandoned as a child and PSTD. I feel that Danny is better written in Moffat’s head than he is on the screen.

Perkins is a good character, and would have been a fine companion.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent you are braver than me. Agreed many episodes improve on second watch. I did not particularly like Time Heist the first time I watched it but now really enjoy it. I have no intention of ever giving Kill the Moon a second chance however. I don’t think it has a single redeeming quality.

Regarding subconscious memory, I often find that something I have just written i had already wrote almost word for word a year or two before which leads to the editing nightmare of “which version is best”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Another enjoyable review.. I was not overly enamoured of Time Heist the first time I watched it, (perhaps because it follows Listen), but it has really grown on me on re watches. It is an excellent episode in most aspects though the skull collapsing because the brain is melted does bother me because that would not happen. (For the same reason that the flooded valley in “Before the Flood” annoys me. It doesn’t work that way.) I liked the characters Psi and Saibra and Keeley Hawes was delightfully evil as the banker.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. I am getting a bit excited about the anniversary specials too. We recently re-watched a few RTD episodes just as a reminder of his show runner/writing style. Also I watched Years and Years which is basically a non sci fi 6 episode version of Turn Left. I did have a sneak look at the trailers and they however somewhat dampened that  enthusiasm but trailers nearly always tend to do that.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave I had not seen the Regency pics so went hunting at once. Nice costumes. I do like it when the Doctor and Companion dress for the period. I’m guessing that when not going to period times the Doctor will have a iconic outfit, or how could fans cosplay him?

Only six months now, (roughly) to wait for the 60th Special.

@dentarthurdent Looking forward to reading your reviews.. We re watched The Caretaker quite recently. As you say not one of the best but it has some nice moments.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@winston I it is cold and dreary here. I am looking out at the garden which is in need of pruning and weeding and trying to muster the energy to get out there and overcome my aversion to the cold and damp. So I am envying you the warm weather but not the mosquitos. Those I think anyone can do without.

I like the Guardian fantasy house hunt and last night I spotted a familiar abode. It’s “Scooby Doo’s House”, Wester Drumlins. (I always thought the name was West Drumlins.) It has been refurbished since 2007 when Blink was filmed there. Interesting house.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I was trying to asses the costume and not the Doctor hence listing Capaldi’s amongst the fails. I always felt that they did not “nail” it and the stary jumper was up there with the question marks. (or should I say down there?) Capaldi is one of my absolute favourite Doctors though. Likewise I liked Whitaker’s costume but was not a massive fan of the stories. In the case of Peter Davison the costume definitely influenced my reaction to him as Doctor. I think I would rate his costume as worse than the misfire that was Colin Baker’s. There were no redeeming aspects to that era. We have just been watching some first series AG and I don’t like the costume though it does suit the more sombre character of “EcclesDoc”. It lacks the sense of playfulness that made SmithDoc’s costume so perfectly in tune with his character. Also SmithDoc’s costume harks back to BG costumes, not Pertwee’s thankfully, that gives the character a sense of history which I like.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent. Another enjoyable review. Thank you.

One of the best episodes of AGWho and I can’t think of an old Who episode that was better. It is one of my “go to” episodes.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent, @blenkisnopthebrave and @devislishrobby

We had a round table family discussion last night about the costumes and divided them into three catagories, the good, the bad and the indifferent.

The Bad, (not necessarily in worst to least bad order) Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Ecclestone and Capaldi, the indifferent, Tennant, the Good, Ist, 2nd and 3rd, 7th, 8th, Smith and Whitaker. The Best of BG is 4th Doctor, Tom Baker and the best of AG is Matt Smith’s. Loved the bow tie. The new Doctor’s costume looks good but I feel as though it is too soon to include it.

I think the costume should be distinctive, a bit eccentric which is why Ecclestone’s and Capaldi’s costumes (though i loved the coat but he did not wear it enough) didn’t really make the grade for me and Tennant’s is an indifferent. Matt Smith was capturing the essence of the Doctor in his costume and I feel that Whitaker got close. it doesn’t have to be stylish but it needs to convey the sense that this individual is not conventional. The Doctor should not blend in but nor should they be clownish.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

there could be a costume spoiler in there so mods please note and move if you consider it to a more appropriate thread.

 

[janetteB @replies]

Some Dr Who whimsy to bring a smile to the face today and hopefully inspire some discussion.

I have to rush off to record a podcast but when I get back I will be compiling my own list as I agree with some but certainly not all of this one.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent I was looking forward to your review of Robot of Sherwood. It is a fun episode, the kind that cheers me up if I feel a bit down, and has a lovely meta line at the end but it has that one glaring fault, the golden arrow. It does not work in a “real world” sense but nor does it work as fantasy. It just doesn’t work which is a shame but there is so much to enjoy in this episode. The banter between Robin and the Doctor is a delight, the Doctor is wonderfully eccentric and wrong about so many things, the highlighting of the relationship between myth and reality provides a hint of depth. If only there were a better resolution.  It is one of those stories where the writer has good set up, good complication, good setting and characters but no idea of how to resolve the story and so it fizzles at the end.

Last night we watched the Puss in Boots movie and Puss reminded me of Robin and used the same line. “Puss in Boots laughs in the face of death.”  I don’t know if that is an old line from the golden days of Hollywood. IT sounds like a 1940 Swashbuckler type of thing to say.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Back in the long distant days of 1963, and what a year it was.. it was considered too risque to have a young woman travelling alone with and old man in a cosy police box so they made her his granddaughter. It was done for convenience sake and many fans have questioned the relationship. It seems that RTD and the Moff both decided that Susan was his granddaughter because they often refer to the Doctor as having had children, “Dad Skills”. Nothing is really set in stone when it comes to Doctor Who so Susan may or may not be the granddaughter. I “like to think” she is, at least until there is a convincing story to indicate otherwise then I will have to re write my “head canon”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@blenkinsopthebrave Thanks for the link. I saw the image on the Guardian this morning. Interesting, very interesting. I like her costume and it is nice to see the companion in period costume and just not contemporary street wear which is boring. His/their? costume not so sure. Blue is not my colour but at least it is a costume, something bold and different. The Doctor should stand out a bit. It was one aspect of the J.W. years that I did like, the costume. It was entirely consistent with the Doctor’s character, trying to fit in and not quite getting it right. I also liked that she/they patched it together in an opp shop though it turned out to be another break with tradition, finding things in the Tardis wardrobe which on its own is fine but became a consistent theme which I now feel was more due to Chibnell not caring about what was established prior and not just doing some “refreshing”.

Interesting that the episode is set in the 60s, maybe we are revisiting the early years of the series?? Hopefully this signals a return to what sketchy continuity there is in Dr Who.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@dentarthurdent Robot of Sherwood will do that for sure..

Cheers

Janette

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